Golf green trainer

ABSTRACT

A golf green trainer comprises a mainframe chest, an immovable putt plate, and an electronic control chest. The mainframe chest further comprises an angular adjusting device, a ball sweeping device, a ball collecting device, and a ball supplying device such that users can set the angular adjusting device by means of the electronic control chest for adjusting the inclination angle of the golf green plate so as to simulate a real golf green surface. By means of the ball sweeping device, the golf ball which can not be putted into the hole nor to the out-of-bounds but remain on the golf green plate will be swept into the ball collecting device. By means of the ball collecting device, the ball which is putted into the hole and the ball which is swept into the ball collecting device will be collected for replenishing the ball supplying device. By means of the ball supplying device, the golf ball will be supplied to one end of the immovable putt plate for users to putt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a golf green trainer, and moreparticularly, to a golf green trainer which requires only a limitedspace for the users to practice putting. The users are allowed to adjustthe inclination angle of a golf green plate as they desire forsimulating a real golf green surface so as to practice putting.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] There are conventional golf green trainers for users to practiceputting; however, these conventional trainers do not allow the users toadjust the inclination angle of the golf green plate for simulating areal golf green surface.

[0005] Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 245976 entitled “A golf greentrainer with a changeable green slope” discloses a golf green trainerwhich allows the users to adjust the inclination angle of the golf greenplate; however, it is too simple in structure, does not have too manyvariations when adjusting the green slope, and is not very easy to use.

[0006] Therefore, it is very important to develop a golf green trainerwhich allows the users to adjust the inclination angle of the golf greenplate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A golf green trainer comprises a mainframe chest, an immovableputt plate, and an electronic control chest. The mainframe chest furthercomprises an angular adjusting device, a ball sweeping device, a ballcollecting device, and a ball supplying device such that users can setthe angular adjusting device by means of the electronic control chestfor adjusting the inclination angle of the golf green plate so as tosimulate a real golf green surface. By means of the ball sweepingdevice, the golf ball which can not be putted into the hole nor to theout-of-bounds but remain on the golf greenplate will be swept into theball collecting device. By means of the ball collecting device, the ballwhich is putted into the hole and the ball which is swept into the ballcollecting device will be collected for replenishing the ball supplyingdevice. By means of the ball supplying device, the golfball will besupplied to one end of the immovable putt plate for users to putt.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf greentrainer which allows the users to adjust the inclination angle of thegolf green plate as they desire for simulating a real golf greensurface.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a golfgreen trainer which requires only a limited space for the users topractice putting a golf ball on the green.

[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golfgreen trainer which can sweep the ball remaining on the golf green plateand further collect and supply the ball for the users for practice.

[0011] It is still an object of the present invention to provide a golfgreen trainer which can collect the ball putted to the out-of-bounds andsupply the ball for the users to practice.

[0012] It is yet an object of the present invention to provide a golfgreen trainer which is simple to be operated and can display thepractice score such as the number of balls passing through and thenumber of balls putted into the hole so as to increase the interest ofpractice.

[0013] These and other attributes of the present invention will becomemore clear upon a thorough study of the following description of thepreferred embodiments for carrying out the invention, particularly whenreviewed in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf green trainer accordingto the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the golf green trainer according tothe present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the mainframe chest and the golfgreen plate of the golf green trainer according to the presentinvention;

[0017]FIG. 4 shows the assembly of the mainframe chest and the golfgreen plate of the golf green trainer according to the presentinvention;

[0018]FIG. 5 shows the assembly of angular adjusting device of the golfgreen trainer according to the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 6 illustrates the process of angle adjustment according tothe angular adjusting device shown in FIG. 5;

[0020]FIG. 7 shows the assembly of ball sweeping device of the golfgreen trainer according to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 8 shows the sweeping rod assembly of the ball sweeping deviceshown in FIG. 7;

[0022]FIG. 9 shows the power transmission assembly of the ball sweepingdevice shown in FIG. 7;

[0023]FIG. 10 shows the assembly of ball collecting device of the golfgreen trainer according to the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 11 illustrates the process of ball collection according tothe ball collecting device shown in FIG. 10;

[0025]FIG. 12 shows the assembly of ball supplying device of the golfgreen trainer according to the present invention, wherein the ballelevating arm has not begun to elevate a ball yet;

[0026]FIG. 13 shows partial enlargement of the ball supplying device ofthe golf green trainer according to the present invention, wherein theball elevating arm has finished to elevate a ball;

[0027]FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are schematic diagrams showing a golf ball issupplied by the ball supplying device; and

[0028]FIG. 16 shows the practical applications of the golf green traineraccording to the present invention, wherein FIG. 16A shows a golf ballrolling up the golf green, FIG. 16B shows a golf ball putted behind thehole and rolling down the golf green, FIG. 16C shows a golf ball beingswept by the ball sweeping device, and FIG. 16D shows a golf ballsupplied to a user by the ball supplying device.

[0029] Description of the Reference Numerals

[0030]1 golf green trainer

[0031]2 golf ball

[0032]3 ambient lighting cover

[0033]4 mainframe chest

[0034]5 electronic control chest

[0035]6 immovable putt plate

[0036]7 pedal

[0037]8 golf green plate

[0038]9 photoelectric sensor

[0039]11 rocking lever

[0040]12 pivot axle

[0041]13 joint

[0042]14 link

[0043]15 cam

[0044]16 first motor

[0045]17 first micro switch

[0046]41 first chassis

[0047]42 set of rollers

[0048]43 sweeping rod

[0049]44 touching block

[0050]45 second chassis

[0051]46 second motor

[0052]47 driving sprocket

[0053]48 idle sprocket

[0054]49 driven sprocket

[0055]50 endless chain

[0056]51 carrying rod

[0057]52 second micro switch

[0058]53 slideway

[0059]54 platform

[0060]61 middle groove

[0061]62 third micro switch

[0062]63 east groove

[0063]64 forth micro switch

[0064]65 north groove

[0065]66 west groove

[0066]67 fifth micro switch

[0067]68 south groove

[0068]69 turn groove

[0069]71 third motor

[0070]72 crank

[0071]73 ball supplying arm

[0072]74 supporter

[0073]75 first spring

[0074]76 ball supplying groove

[0075]77 damping plate

[0076]78 second spring

[0077]79 ball feeding hood

[0078]80 sixth micro switch

[0079]81 ball holder

[0080]91 angular adjusting device

[0081]92 ball sweeping device

[0082]93 ball collecting device

[0083]94 ball supplying device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0084] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. The golf green trainer 1according to the present invention comprises a mainframe chest 4including a golf green plate 8 mounted thereon with a hole disposed atone end for receiving the golf ball 2 and a photoelectric sensor 9installed at the other end for detecting the golf ball 2 passingthrough, an immovable putt plate 6 extended from one end of themainframe chest 4 for users to putt the golf ball 2 placed thereon, andan electronic control chest 5 disposed on one side of the mainframechest 4. The mainframe chest 4 further comprises an angular adjustingdevice 91, a ball sweeping device 92, a ball collecting device 93, and aball supplying device 94 such that users can set the angular adjustingdevice 91 by means of the electronic control chest 5 for adjusting theinclination angle of the golf green plate 8 so as to simulate a realgolf green surface, by means of the ball sweeping device 92, the golfball 2 which can not be putted into the hole nor to the out-of-boundsbut remain on the golf green plate 8 will be swept into the ballcollecting device 93, by means of the ball collecting device 93, thegolf ball 2 which is putted into the hole and the golf ball 2 which isswept into the ball collecting device 93 will be collected forreplenishing the ball supplying device 94, and by means of the ballsupplying device 94, the golf ball 2 will be supplied to one end of theimmovable putt plate 6 for users to putt.

[0085] Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The angular adjusting device91 comprises a rocking lever 11 beneath the golf green plate 8 forsupporting and rocking the golf green plate 8, a pivot axle 12 disposedat the middle of the rocking lever 11 for the rocking lever 11 to pivotthereon, a joint 13 installed at one end of the rocking lever 11, a link14 connecting the joint 13 at a first end and a cam 15 at a second end,a cam 15 connected to the shaft of the first motor 16 having a lowerpoint L and a higher point H for carrying the second end of the link 14to move between a lower position and a higher position, and a firstmotor 16 controlled by a first micro switch 17 which is electricallyconnected to the electronic control chest 5 such that users can operatethe first motor 16 by means of the first micro switch 17 through theelectronic control chest 5 to rotate the cam 15 between the lower pointL and the higher point H, then drive the link 14 and the rocking lever11, and consequently, the golf green plate 8 can be changed with adesired angle.

[0086] Please refer to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9. The ball sweeping device 92comprises a sweeping rod carrier part and a power transmission part. Thesweeping rod carrier part carries the sweeping rod 43 to move forwardand backward on two parallel slideways 53. The sweeping rod carrier partfurthermore comprises a first chassis 41 with one set of rollers 42 on afirst side and another set of rollers 42 on a second side opposed to thefirst side for rolling on the two parallel slideways 53, a sweeping rod43 installed on the top of the first chassis 41 for sweeping the golfball 2, and a touching block 44 mounted beneath one end of the sweepingrod 43 for touching a second micro switch 52 so as to control a secondmotor 46. The power transmission part furthermore comprises a secondchassis 45 having two parallel slideways 53 and a platform 54 for thesweeping rod carrier part to slide thereon, a driving sprocket 47installed at one end of the second chassis 45 and connected to the shaftof the second motor 46, a driven sprocket 49 installed at the other endof the second chassis 45, an endless chain 50 driven by the drivingsprocket 47 and moving around the driving sprocket 47 and the drivensprocket 49, an idle sprocket 48 provided between the driving sprocket47 and the driven sprocket 49 for stretching and adjusting the endlesschain 50, and a carrying rod 51 fixed on the endless chain 50 andcoupled with the first chassis 41 for carrying the sweeping rod carrierpart such that a timer will begin to count time right after a golf ballis putted and passes through a photoelectric sensor 9, and if the golfball 2 is not putted into the hole nor to the out-of-bounds within atime period, the second motor 46 will be energized to drive the endlesschain 50 and then the sweeping rod carrier part to sweep the golf ball 2with the sweeping rod 43.

[0087] Please refer to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. The ball collecting device93 comprises a middle groove 61 disposed below the hole and a thirdmicro switch 62 installed thereon for identifying the golf ball 2passing through the middle groove 61 into the hole, an east groove 63disposed between the immovable putt plate 6 and the east side of thegolf green plate 8 and a forth micro switch 64 installed thereon foridentifying the golf ball 2 passing through the east groove 63 to theout-of-bounds, a west groove 66 disposed between the immovable puttplate 6 and the west side of the golf green plate 8 and a fifth microswitch 67 installed thereon for identifying the golf ball 2 passingthrough the west groove 66 to the out-of-bounds, a north groove 65disposed between the immovable putt plate 6 and the north side of thegolf green plate 8 for guiding the golf ball 2 to the east groove 63 orthe west groove 66, a south groove 68 disposed on the south side of andbelow the golf green plate 8 for guiding the golf ball 2 coming from themiddle groove 61 and the west groove 66, and a turn groove 69 disposedbelow the golf green plate 8 for guiding the golf ball 2 coming from theeast groove 63 and the south groove 68 to the ball supplying device 94.

[0088] Please refer to FIG. 12 to FIG. 15. The ball supplying device 94comprises a third motor 71 fixed on the mainframe chest 4, a crank 72with one end connected to the shaft of the third motor 71 and the otherend to the ball supplying arm 73, a ball supplying arm 73 with one endhaving a ball holder 81 and the other end pivotally connecting to asupporter 74 fixed on the mainframe chest 4, a first spring 75connecting the ball supplying arm 73 and the supporter 74, a ballsupplying groove 76 fixed on the mainframe chest 4 for guiding the golfball 2 from the ball holder 81 to the immovable putt plate 6 so as tosupply the golf ball 2 to the user, a damping plate 77 whose middlepoint is pivotally connected to the ball feeding hood 79 and a first endis disposed below the ball holder 81 and a second end connects to asecond spring 78 mounted on the mainframe chest 4 so as to damp the ballholder 81 falling down, a ball feeding hood 79 fixed on the mainframechest 4 for helping the golf ball 2 to enter the ball holder 81, and asixth micro switch 80 installed on the ball supplying groove 76 fordetermining whether it is necessary or not to supply further a ball.

[0089] Please refer to the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 again. The golf greentrainer according to the present invention can additionally comprise anambient lighting cover 3. The ambient lighting cover 3 is disposed abovethe mainframe chest 4 and the golf green plate 8 to prevent thephotoelectric sensor 9 from being interrupted by persons or movingobjects near by so as to assure the photoelectric sensor 9 canaccurately detect the golf ball 2 passing through.

[0090] Please refer to the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 one more time. The golfgreen trainer according to the present invention can additionallycomprise a pedal 7 installed beside one end and at the same level of theimmovable putt plate 6 for the user stepping thereon while putting agolf ball 2.

[0091] In the golf green trainer according to the present invention, thephotoelectric sensor 9 can also be employed to count the number of ballspassing through, and the third micro switch 62 can be employed to countthe number of balls putted into the hole. A display device (not shown)can be further installed on the electronic control chest 5 fordisplaying the number of balls passing through and the number of ballsputted into the hole.

[0092] Please refer to FIG. 16A to FIG. 16D, which show the practicalapplications of the golf green trainer 1 according to the presentinvention. FIG. 16A shows a golf ball rolling up the golf green, FIG.16B shows a golf ball putted behind the hole and rolling down the golfgreen, FIG. 16C shows a golf ball being swept by the ball sweepingdevice, and FIG. 16D shows a golf ball supplied to a user by the ballsupplying device.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf green trainer comprising: a mainframe chest including a golf green plate mounted thereon with a hole disposed at one end for receiving a golf ball and a photoelectric sensor installed at the other end for detecting the golf ball passing through; an immovable putt plate extended from one end of the mainframe chest for users to putt the golf ball placed thereon; and an electronic control chest disposed on one side of the mainframe chest; wherein the mainframe chest further comprises an angular adjusting device, a ball sweeping device, a ball collecting device, and a ball supplying device such that users can set the angular adjusting device by means of the electronic control chest for adjusting the inclination angle of the golf green plate so as to simulate a real golf green surface; by means of the ball sweeping device, the golf ball which can not be putted into the hole nor to the out-of-bounds but remain on the golf green plate will be swept into the ball collecting device; by means of the ball collecting device, the golf ball which is putted into the hole and the golf ball which is swept into the ball collecting device will be collected for replenishing the ball supplying device; by means of the ball supplying device, the golf ball will be supplied to one end of the immovable putt plate for users to putt.
 2. The golf green trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the angular adjusting device comprises: a rocking lever beneath the golf green plate for supporting and rocking the golf green plate; pivot axle disposed at the middle of the rocking lever for the rocking lever to pivot thereon; a joint installed at one end of the rocking lever; a link connecting the joint at a first end and a cam at a second end; a cam connected to the shaft of a first motor having a lower point and a higher point for carrying the second end of the link to move between a lower position and a higher position; and a first motor controlled by a first micro switch which is electrically connected to the electronic control chest such that users can operate the first motor by means of the first micro switch through the electronic control chest to rotate the cam between the lower point and the higher point then drive the link and the rocking lever, and consequently, the golf green plate can be changed with a desired angle.
 3. The golf green trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball sweeping device comprises: a sweeping rod carrier part which carries the sweeping rod to move forward and backward on two parallel slideways, the sweeping rod carrier part furthermore comprises: a first chassis with one set of rollers on a first side and another set of rollers on a second side opposed to the first side for rolling on the two parallel slideways; a sweeping rod installed on the top of the first chassis for sweeping the golf ball; and a touching block mounted beneath one end of the sweeping rod for touching a second micro switch so as to control a second motor; and a power transmission part, the power transmission part furthermore comprises: a second chassis having two parallel slideways and a platform for the sweeping rod carrier part to slide thereon; a driving sprocket installed at one end of the second chassis and connected to the shaft of the second motor; a driven sprocket installed at the other end of the second chassis; an endless chain driven by the driving sprocket and moving around the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket; an idle sprocket provided between the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket for stretching and adjusting the endless chain; and a carrying rod fixed on the endless chain and coupled with the first chassis for carrying the sweeping rod carrier part such that a timer will begin to count time right after a golf ball is putted and passes through the photoelectric sensor, and if the golf ball is not putted into the hole nor to the out-of-bounds within a time period, the second motor will be energized to drive the endless chain and then the sweeping rod carrier part to sweep the golf ball with the sweeping rod.
 4. The golf green trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball collecting device comprises: a middle groove disposed below the hole, and a third micro switch installed thereon for identifying the golf ball passing through the middle groove into the hole; an east groove disposed between the immovable putt plate and the east side of the golf green plate, and a forth micro switch installed thereon for identifying the golf ball passing through the east groove to the out-of-bounds; a west groove disposed between the immovable putt plate and the west side of the golf green plate, and a fifth micro switch installed thereon for identifying the golf ball passing through the west groove to the out-of-bounds; a north groove disposed between the immovable putt plate and the north side of the golf green plate for guiding the golf ball to the east groove or the west groove; a south groove disposed on the south side of and below the golf green plate for guiding the golf ball coming from the middle groove and the west groove; and a turn groove disposed below the golf green plate for guiding the golf ball from the east groove and the south groove to the ball supplying device.
 5. The golf green trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball supplying device comprises: a third motor fixed on the mainframe chest; a crank with one end connected to the shaft of the third motor and the other end to the ball supplying arm; a ball supplying arm with one end having a ball holder and the other end pivotally connecting to a supporter fixed on the mainframe chest; a first spring connecting the ball supplying arm and the supporter; a ball supplying groove fixed on the mainframe chest for guiding the golf ball from the ball holder to the immovable putt plate so as to supply the golf ball to the user; a damping plate whose middle point is pivotally connected to the ball feeding hood, a first end is disposed below the ball holder and a second end connects to a second spring mounted on the mainframe chest so as to damp the ball holder falling down; a ball feeding hood fixed on the mainframe chest for helping the golf ball to enter the ball holder; and a sixth micro switch installed on the ball supplying groove for determining whether it is necessary or not to supply further a ball.
 6. The golf green trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ambient lighting cover is disposed above the mainframe chest and the golf green plate to prevent the photoelectric sensor from being interrupted by persons or moving objects nearby so as to assure the photoelectric sensor can accurately detect the golf ball passing through.
 7. The golf green trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pedal is installed beside one end and at the same level of the immovable putt plate for the user stepping thereon while putting a golf ball.
 8. The golf green trainer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photoelectric sensor is employed to count the number of balls passing through, the third micro switch is employed to count the number of balls putted into the hole, and a display device is installed on the electronic control chest for displaying the number of balls passing through and the number of balls putted into the hole. 